Chapter 32

"Sorry ka, tita. Hindi ako umiyak kahapon," pang-aasar ko pa kay tita. Hindi niya kasi matanggap na hindi ako umiyak nang magkita kami ni Connagh kahapon. She thought I was hiding about it pero hindi talaga ako umiyak. I was happy pa nga, e. We've settled and became friends again. I think that's all that matters now. Ang manatiling good friends.

"'Di bale, okay lang 'yan." Aniya at hinigit ang braso ko at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. Nagpaalam siya sa amo niya para samahan akong ihatid sa airport. It's 6 AM in the morning and she should be preparing for them pero dahil minsan lang naman 'to mangyari, pumayag sila at kasama ko siya ngayon.

"Tita naman. Ayoko ngang umiyak sa pag-alis ko, e."

"O, e 'di bayad ka ng 50 pounds kapag umiyak ka."

"Hala, 'di na 'yon kasama e," pagrarason ko pa. Humugot naman ako ng malalim na hininga at humiwalay sa pagkayayakap kay tita. "So, my flight will be an hour away. I will miss this place. I will miss everything."

"Sabi mo babalik ka ha. Asahan ko 'yan."

Napangisi na lamang ako sa sinabi ni tita. "Well, wala namang imposible sa panahon ngayon. Magpapayaman muna ako sa Pinas bago ako makabalik."

"Magpapayaman? Akala ko ba jowa mo na ulit si Connagh?"

Tumaas ang kilay ko sa sinabi ni tita. "Anong jowa-jowa, tita. Nag-usap lang kaming dalawa kahapon. Hindi kami magjowa."

"Hmmm... totoo ba?"

I scrunched my face. "Ba't ayaw mo ba maniwala? Hindi naman kasi talaga. If he's really my jowa, e 'di sana nandito sa ngayon, 'di ba? But he's not so that's clearer than the diamond."

"E, ano 'yong date na ginawa niyo kahapon? Pang-mang-jowa lang 'yon, e."

I grunted, rolling eyes. "Tita! Ang kulit-kulit. Hindi ko nga siya jowa and lastly, hindi naman 'yon totally date. For me, it was the last tour I had in London."

"With special someone," pagtutuloy ni tita.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang din naman ako. "Sige na, tita. Oo na lang talaga ako. Anyway, ma-mi-miss ko naman 'yang pang-aasar mo, e. Minsan mag-video call tayo nila mama if may time ka. Tapos hanap ka na rin ng jowa mo kapag may time ka. Masyado ka ng napamamahal sa amo mo. Baka 'yon na pala ending mo."

Hinampas naman niya ako sa balikat ko. Natawa na lang naman ako. "Ang tanda-tanda na ng amo ko. Hindi ko jojowain 'yon."

"Kaya nga may tinatawag ngayong sugar daddy. Alam mo na..." Hagikgik ko pa. Gusto sana niya ako kurutin pero dahil maraming taong nakapaligid sa amin ay hindi na ginagawa. Baka iba pa kasi isipin ng mga tao kung sakali so she kept her hands to herself. Hindi ko na lang din naman mapigilang matawa.

"Bwisit ka, pamangks. Pero kung katulad naman ni Connagh, why not, right?" Hagikgik pa ni tita. Pero saglit lang din ay natahimik kaming dalawa ni tita at muli niya akong niyakap. Kulang na lang maging nanay ko si tita sa ilang beses na pagyakap niya sa akin. Humiwalay din naman kaadad siya sa pagkakayakap sa akin. Pinisil naman niya ang balikat ko. "Congrats din, pamangks! Ga-graduate ka na! Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude?"

Napangisi naman ako sa tanong niya. "Thank you, tita, pero hindi ko pa sigurado kung alin doon. Hindi pa naman sinasabi sa amin. Siguro kapag nagpunta ako ng school, dadaan ako sa office to check my credentials." Muli naman akong napahugot ng malalim na hininga. "This is it! I can't believe na tapos na ang 360 hours internship ko rito sa London. It's quite a crazy experience."

"Sa totoo lang," komento ni tita. "I think you should go na. Bawal ka ma-late sa flight o kung bet mo naman mapag-iwanan, pwede naman kitang i-reto sa amo ko tapos magtrabaho tayo on both side. Ano, go ka na?"

I scrunched my face and shook my head. "Sa sugar daddy mo, tita? 'Wag na lang."

"Ay choosy!" Inabot nito ang buhok ko at inakmang hihilain niya sana pero pinigilan niyang gawin 'yon. Napahugot na lamang nang malalim na buntong-hininga si tita. "Hay, naku. Umalis ka na nga. Hindi na talaga kita pauuwiin pa sa Pinas."

"True. Bye na nga."

I had my last hug with tita and then I pulled myself away from her. I held my hand to the trolley and was about to push it away when I heard someone shouting my name. Sabay pa kaming napalingon ni tita para hanapin kung sino 'yong tumawag sa akin. When we tried looking for the source of the voice, eventually I found him rushing towards my direction.

It took my breath away when I saw Connagh coming towards my direction. Hindi pa man ako tuluyang nakapapasok sa loob ng airport ay mabuti na lamang ay naabutan niya ako. Was I really expecting for him? Maybe... but because of what happened yesterday, it was enough for me pero ngayon na makita ko siyang papalapit sa akin ngayon, it was surreal. I can't believe he's coming for me for the very last time. And what for?

"Connagh?" I muttered his name. He's on white shirt, gray sweatpants, beige loafer shoes. His hair was a little messy and his face looks like he just woken up. Hindi ko naman maiwasang mapangiti lalo nang mapalapit siya sa akin. He then stopped in front of me, chasing his breath. Nakatitig lamang ako sa mukha niya and he's a little sweaty. "What are you doing here?"

He smirked. "Do you think I'm going to let you leave without saying a word to you?"

"I'm not sure though, are you?"

He nodded. "Yeah, that's why I'm here."

"Oh... okay..."

"Uy, pogi, ayaw mo pakawalan ano?" singit ni tita. Siniko ko naman si tita dahil sa sinabi niya. Natawa na lamang si Connagh at nahiya ako ng bahagya at gusto ko na lamang itago ang mukha ko at umalis na lang ng hindi nagpapaalam. "Mahal mo na ano?" Hagikgik pa ni tita.

"Tita naman. Kala ko bye na?"

"E, biglang dumating si prince charming, e." Mapaglaro pa nitong ngiti na pilit ko namang in-ignore.

Hinarap ko si Connagh ng may ngiti sa labi. "So... what are you really here for?"

"Oh, you left this paper bag in my car yesterday and I almost forgot about it so I tried going to your flat and then I met Berk there and he told you just left so I immediately went there to see and fortunate of me, I was still able to see you. So, here's your stuff." He handed it over to me and I took it from his hand. I know what's inside of it, but I'm more curious how his encounter with Berk was.

"So, you've met Berk there?"

He nodded his head. "Yeah, luckily. He said he woke up early just to say his goodbye to you."

"Yeah, he did that. He was the one who helped me carry my bags to the taxi and all. We're friends. It was good that we remained friends after what we've been through. So... yeah, what else did you guys talk about?"

He raised his arm and put his hand just behind his neck. "Well, he told me if we could talk sometimes."

"And what did you say?"

"And I say, 'yes, we could talk sometimes.' I mean, it's time to settle the situation. I wanted to settle it with him a few weeks ago, but I guess I don't have enough time. Or maybe I was just trying to sway my attention away from it. But here were are, I'll just look into my schedule and then we'll talk."

"Could you please update or email if you guys settled it or not?"

He smirked and nodded. "Sure. I'll do that."

"Yeah..." I smiled. "And oh! This paper bag was actually for you."

"Oh," he uttered. "Really?" he creased his forehead, somewhat confused.

"Yes." I opened the dress and showed him what's inside of it. "This paper bag contains the dresses you gave to me that Rebecca owned. I thought I should give it back to you out of respect and of course, for Rebecca. I don't wanna wear it proudly when it meant something to you. I really don't know at first that this was Rebecca's. Berk was actually the first one who noticed it and yeah... I don't think I should keep it and brought it to me back home."

"It's yours now. I-I gave it to you."

I nodded. "I know and thank you for that. But I shouldn't be the one keeping it. Let this be the way for you to remember her. If you gave it to me, you wouldn't be able to see it. It's better for you to keep it."

"Do you know why I gave it to you?" he questioned.

My eyes squinted. "Because you think I could be your new Rebecca? That I can somehow be the living proof of her? I don't know... that's what I was thinking when I realized it."

"Really?" he questioned as if he couldn't believe I thought of that. "No. No. That's not what I really meant. You're unique, Kiersten. You're not Rebecca. I'm not trying to make you look like her because that's not my intention. That's not it. Well, these clothes, I actually bought it for her and she likes it so much. She wore them a lot 'cause she knows how important she is to me when I gave her that dress."

"And you gave this dress to me because?"

"I thought you're important for me that's why I gave you her dress."

Bahagya naman akong napangiti sa sinabi niya. "Well, I appreciate the gesture and the way you thought of me on that way. Thank you, but... but I believe I don't need to keep these dresses anymore. I know I'm important to you and I felt it. I just don't think I have to keep it anymore. Do you understand me, Connagh?"

He nodded. I gave the paper bag back to his hand and hold it loosely. "Yeah, of course. I do understand. I apologize."

"No, you don't have to apologize," I said. "You did nothing wrong so there's no need for you to apologize. You're so kind to me and I know thank you wasn't enough for me to say."

"That's alright, it's totally fine."

"Tingnan mo pogi," tawag ni tita sa kanya. Tumingin naman si Connagh sa kanya. Nilingon ko rin naman siya and she's smiling so happily. "Look what I'm wearing! Kiersten gave it to me! Okay lang ba?"

Napakunot naman ng noo si Connagh and look at her from head to toe. Bahagya din naman itong tumango. "Sure... that's fine. It looks good on your though."

Napangiwi na lang din naman ako. "She insisted so I have to give it to her."

Connagh smirked. "It's totally fine."

"Um... I think I need to go now?" I pointed to the entrance of the airport. "I can't miss my flight."

"Oh, sure, yeah, yeah. I don't wanna keep you here," he said. "But I have a question, Kiersten."

Kumunot naman ang noo ko. "And what could that be?"

"If I had the chance to be in the Philippines, can I see you there?"

I don't know why his question made me smile, but yeah, I couldn't help it. Tumango naman ako sa kanya. "Yes, of course. You can see and visit me there. So, I'll probably see you soon?"

He smiled and nodded. "Yeah... see you soon, Kiersten."

I took a deep breath and let it go. "And now it's time to go. Thank you tita and Connagh for coming here with me. I know this won't be the last time we'll see each other. I may be coming back here soon if I had the opportunity, but for now, I have a flight to catch up. See you on the other side of the world?"

And after a quick moment of hugs and kisses. I bid goodbye and waved my hand. I entered the airport and headed to the check-in counter for all of my stuff and gets my boarding pass. A moment after that, I had to wait to my boarding time and everything somehow went quick because as soon as they announced our departure, my chest filled with a lot of emotions and I hardly leave my seat, but because I have to go, I stood and line up to have my boarding pass checked.

As I'm finally boarding the craft, I headed to where I seat. My seat was near the window side but as soon as I came there, someone was sitting there. I don't know how to reach out to him, but because he's occupying my seat, I had to bother him and made him known that he was sitting on my designated seat.

"Hey, sir, excuse me." Pagkalabit ko pa sa balikat ng lalaking nakaupo sa upuan ko. He has headphones on his ear din kasi kaya hindi niya maririnig kung tatawagin ko lang ang atensyon niya. Agad naman niya akong nilingon at ibinaba ang suot niyang headphone.

"Yes, what is it?" he asked.

"Ah... um... I think you were sitting in my seat? I should be the one sitting there."

"Really?" he questioned, creasing his forehead.

"Bennet!" Isang boses naman ang babae ang tumawag sa kanyang atensyon. "You were sitting on the wrong side. Dito tayo nakaupo! Bakit nandiyan ka?"

"Oh, shit!" he hissed. He dropped some of his stuff on his lap and immediately picked it up. Tumayo rin naman siya sa kanyang kinauupuan. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sit on your seat."

"Okay lang." Ngiti ko pa sa kanya.

He then smiled at me and then went to the other side where a girl that almost look like him. Nang makaalis na rin naman siya ay ako naman ang umupo sa upuan at napahugot na lamang ako ng malalim na buntong-hininga at nilingon ang view mula sa bintana.

"So long London... see you soon."

***

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Let me know your thoughts! I would appreciate it so much!

#FallingInLoveInLondonChapter32 #FILIL32 #WT4

Interact with me on Twitter >>> @Imjacobxoxo